Munch on brunch this spring
Credit: Cassandra Garrison/Metro
People of New York, brace yourselves for a new wave of spring brunch options. You already know what you’ll find yourself doing on Sundays at 1 pm, but where you find yourself is still open to suggestion. Why not add a few new locations to your brunch rotation? We’ve previewed this spring’s standouts and have you covered for every possible weekend scenario. Where there is a will, there’s a brunch.
With your parents
Upstairs at the Kimberly
145 East 50th St., 212-888-1220
There are plenty of hotel restaurants in Midtown, but the Kimberly’s rooftop bistro is a hidden gem. Dazzle mom and dad with a nearly 360-degree view of the city and dazzle yourself — you sophisticated foodie — with a menu that goes far beyond impressing out-of-towners. Choose from specialties like truffle duck toast or a mouth-watering buttermilk waffle topped with fresh fruit and cream. Bonus: The Logan Evan Thomas group will be on stage through March 31, providing the perfect volume of jazz.
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With a date
Willow Road
85 10th Ave., 646-484-6566
This fairly new Chelsea outpost has all the right ingredients to be a serious contender in New York’s brunch scene — including a cocktail list that will break any first date ice. Housed within the former Nabisco factory, the chic décor will impress your date and the small plate/large plate menu is perfect for sharing. The undisturbed ambiance is perfect for getting to know each other — a place where you can actually hear each other talk. Don’t miss the French toast — but be warned, you might be paying more attention to your plate than your date.
With your foodie friend
TAO
42 East 58th St., 212-888-2288
Tired of eggs benedict? In desperate need of the next best thing since Croque Madam? You know TAO as a nightlife hotspot, but it’s time to revisit this Asian fusion powerhouse for your favorite meal of the week. TAO’s newly launched Sunday dim sum brunch menu puts it at the top of the list for those looking for something different that won’t disappoint. Bring a friend with an adventurous palate and go to town on steamed barbeque pork buns, sour and sweet chicken wings and to-die-for banana tempura pudding.
With your girlfriends
Beauty & Essex
146 Essex St., 212-614-0146
See and be seen with your best girls at this LES favorite. It’s the weekend — why not start your morning off with a champagne toast? Move on to menu highlights like tomato soup dumplings and chicken biscuit bites. After a couple cocktails, you’ll be in the mood to shimmy in your chair, and DJ-spun music will be loud enough to let you do it.
The new boozy brunch
Sotto 13
140 West 13th St., 212-647-1001
Move over bloody Marys, here comes the DIY Prosecco bar! If the hair of the dog is what you seek, this new West Village addition has everything you need for the perfect weekend afternoon, but with a tray of mixers and a bottle of champagne – you might not want to plan anything for the rest of the day. Make your own cocktails out of lychee puree and candied ginger. When it’s time to eat something (and you will need to eat something), you’ll be pleasantly met with a menu of brunch tapas and wood-fired pizzas. We recommend the Tuscan egg and the wild mushroom pizza with truffle oil.
Tip: If you can’t make it to Sotto 13, hit Lexington Brass (517 Lexington Ave., 212-392-5976) for a family-style, six-course brunch,which includes a DIY champagne kit. Tuck into comfort classics like jelly donuts, frittata and truffle fries while you craft your own boozy concoction. $50 for two, $85 for four
When you’re craving Mexican
Tacombi at La Fonda Nolita
267 Elizabeth St., 917- 727-0179
This Mexican joint’s open space looks like a converted mechanic’s shop, and there’s even a VW bus parked center to boot. The new brunch boasts chilaquiles, a decadent mash of eggs, cheese and tortillas that will sop up any lingering alcohol from the night before, plus cojeta-glazed rusitc bread topped with a surprisingly sweet combo of sliced banana, avocado and goat’s milk caramel. Platos come with Frutas a la Playa—seasonal Mexican fruit coated in chili salt. It’s another surprising combo that works without explanation. There’s also breakfast tacos, cocktails (one has salsa in it) and fresh fruit and vegetable juices.
Try this
Pop into Tuscan wine bar Felice 83 (1593 First Ave., 212-249-4080 ) for brunch and pair your Pomodoro Bloody Mary with a Raviolo all’Uova—homemade raviolone stuffed with ricotta, spinach and organic egg, topped with cheese sauce ($16).
